Latest Net Metering News and PUCN Ruling

18 Feb Latest Net Metering News and PUCN Ruling

On Friday, February 12, 2016, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada voted to reject the grandfathering clause that would grant current solar net metering ratepayers their existing rates before the 235 MW cap. Instead, the Commission has implemented a rates policy where the new rate increase will spread out over a 12-year period. Beginning Jan 1st, 2016, you have seen your basic connection charge increased to $17.90. Your feed-in tariff is now 9.19 cents while your power purchase price is reduced slightly, to 11.289 cents. These rates will stay the same for the next 3 years. Beginning Jan 1st, 2019, you will see your next rate increase as illustrated in the table below.

Basic Service Charge

Volumetric Charge

Excess Energy Credit

Prior Rate

$12.75

$0.11289

January 1, 2016

$17.90

$0.11067

$0.09199

January 1, 2019

$23.05

$0.10845

$0.07429

January 1, 2022

$28.21

$0.10623

$0.05747

January 1, 2025

$33.36

$0.10418

$0.04157

January 1, 2028

$38.51

$0.10179

$0.02649

There will be a general rate case in 2017, where the Commission will re-evaluate these rate increases based on new data. New findings in this upcoming general rate case will determine whether or not the rate increase beginning in 2019 will stay as they are projected. While we cannot predict what your rates will be at the next incremental implementation, we expect to see activities in other areas including judicial review and legislation that may influence rate making. Currently, a non-profit backed by The Alliance for Solar Choice (TASC) has filed a proposition to be put on the ballot for the upcoming election to repeal the new changes and rates (http://goo.gl/UAAHTZ).

Meanwhile, Senator Harry Reid also issued a statement in his most recent press release, introducing Amendment 3120 which aims at protecting “residential solar energy customers from abusive rate hikes.” (http://goo.gl/U7hEH0) The entire record of Amendment 3120 can be found here (https://goo.gl/NK27X5).

If you are not content with these rate increases, we urge you to contact your legislators and voice your support for the rates to remain as they were before reaching the 235 MW.

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